BACODINE The real-time BATSE gamma-ray burst coordinates distribution network

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Abstract
The real‐time transmission of the data from the C‐GRO spacecraft allows for access to the BATSE instrument data that can be used to make simultaneous or near‐simultaneous multi‐band observations of Gamma‐Ray Bursts (GRBs). We discuss a system that (1) monitors this telemetry stream, (2) extracts the appropriate information from the BATSE portion, (3) detects the occurrence of a GRB, (4) calculates the approximate coordinates for the burst, and (5) distributes those coordinates to instruments, observatories, and other interested parties. This is done with custom hardware plus software located at the Goddard Space Flight Center mission operations center for C‐GRO. The maximum time delay between the arrival of the GRB photons at the BATSE detectors and the calculation of the coordinates is 5.5 seconds. The accuracy of the calculated coordinates is ±10 degrees. The coordinates can be distributed by dedicated phone connections, by direct computer‐to‐computer socket connections, and by e‐mail to any automated, optical telescope systems with wide field‐of‐view capabilities. This rapid distribution of coordinates (0.3 to 30 sec) allows for a 5 to 6 order of magnitude improvement over previous efforts in the response time of follow‐up observations of the optical emission of GRBs. This greatly increases the likelihood of optical flash detection and hence, of the quiescent counterpart identification of GRBs.

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